Anna finally joined us after completing a full circle with the identification crystal around the cave exit, but she didn't seem very pleased.
–Any problem, Anna? – Mav asked, seeing her expression.
–Nothing much, I just expected to find some better things around here. Ah~😮💨 – she replied with a sigh.
–Hey, relax, we just got out of the cave, it makes sense that things right outside aren't good. – Max said. –Remember, on the forest floor, the good things only start appearing after what?. About 20 minutes of walking after leaving the teleportation circle?
–I know that, I just wanted maybe something interesting right away. Well, something interesting right away that could become a profitable product, not a restless fake dead man. – she said with more sharpness than I've ever heard her say anything.
–Sharp. But let's be honest, what did you really expect to find around here?. A chest full of gold coins? – Max said, partly joking, partly surprised, and partly serious.
–It's not a matter of wanting, it's just about waiting, and when something you expect doesn't happen, you get bitter. Even more so when you have to fight with rotting corpses walking around in a place... like this. – she said, gesturing to the area around us.
–That's not the only reason you're like this... what about the crystal? – Mav asked, which caused Anna to jump slightly.
–"....."
–.....
Identification crystals became a highly sought-after item, allowing people to check the effectiveness of the fruits they harvested during the Trial, as well as the purity of the metals in the few available deposits.
Not only that, they could also check the grade of the items they obtained from defeated opponents; needless to say, the higher the grade, the higher the selling price and the greater the reliability when used.
However, the crystals had a downside. They were generally difficult to obtain.
If 5 groups of 3 to 5 people joined, the chances of obtaining an identification crystal or status tablet were less than 1 in 10. That is, only one or two people out of perhaps 25 would get them. Even the tomes and ready-made equipment were easier to obtain.
Because of this, a small rule was established: unless the group desperately needed money, the crystals were not sold or used by the group. Obviously, Anna's father's merchant group has several crystals (even tablets) that they sell for a good profit, but to help with the mission a few days ago, he released almost half to us without charging.
Anna was worried about this since her family is already in debt to the Baron and with a good portion of a large income not generating profits, her concerns are well-founded. The result of this was the extremely limited use of the crystals upstairs, at least by us; of the 5 identification crystals (50 verifications) upstairs, we've already used 2 and now...
Slowly, Anna showed what she was holding, a piece of folded paper amidst shards of crystal. One less crystal, there were still 2.
–You know you don't need to be upset about this, your father doesn't just care about some crystals being used. The other groups also barely used theirs and agreed to return them to your father without problems.
–I KNOW!... But it's still annoying... Sorry. Besides, the items we found weren't anything special. They were even inferior to most of the goblin floor's items. – She said, showing the results of the assessments she had made so far.
[Enhanced Phosphorescent Mushroom]
Type: material, ingredient
Grade: common
Description: a mushroom that grows in dark and humid regions, glowing with a faint bluish hue to attract insects and other nocturnal animals.]
[Black Mangrove]
[Type: material]
[Grade: common]
[Description: a tree capable of desalinating water, its wood is strong and durable, it produces nectar attracted by various insects.]
[Swamp Oak]
[Type: material]
[Grade: common]
[Description: fine wood, good for making firewood or paper.]
[Bald Cypress]
[Type: material]
[Grade: common]
[Description: excellent wood for carpentry, resistant to fungi and rot.]
[Black Moss]
[Type: material, ingredient]
[Grade: below common]
[Description: a type of moss that has developed a dark color to camouflage itself in low-light areas, it feeds on animal remains and residual bioluminescence from other beings. Perhaps it could have uses in recipes.]
[Cranberry
Type: ingredient
Level: moderate
Description: A sweet, slightly sour and acid creeping fruit, it has properties that regulate urination and cardiovascular control. It may help in energy recovery.]
[Rusty Cavalry Dagger
Level: moderate
Attack: 10
Durability: 20/20
Ability: —
Description: A dagger used by knights as a last resort. Made of a mixture of steel and iron for greater durability, but rusted due to the environment and lack of care.]
The last three items were all below common and barely had any use in the description. So, objectively, compared to the forest back there that had herbs and fruits capable of directly healing or replenishing Aether, things here really seemed much less impressive.
The environment itself didn't help either.
–...Well, they may not be as miraculous as those in the forest. But still, there are some things here that will certainly be a hit, the wood for making boats, the little fruits that help regulate urime function and cardiovaklar function. It's not a loss. – Max said, a tiny bit to fast to understand, after reading the results.
– Aaahhh~. Again, I know. But I was just expecting something more, you understand.
–Yes, we understand, but I have to agree with the airhead that some things here are already quite useful as they are. For example, this moss isn't said to be useless, maybe we'll find other uses for it. And the little fruits will be a good addition as medicine for the healers of villages and cities. Even more so for older people. – Mav said after concentrating a little more than his brother on the items.
–Yes, exactly... But why would it be good for the elderly? – Max asked after making a snobbish face, receiving an exasperated look from Mav and Cali.
–I'll ask even though I already have an idea of the answer, but... Airhead, do you know what uri-ne and car-dio-vas-cu-lar mean? – Mav asked, with a hand on his face.
–...Something that helps with... Something to move well... Something that helps with movement?...
Mav slapped his face and sighed. Cali entered with an even more exasperated look and said.
–Urine is piss. Cardiovascular is the flow of blood in the body.
–Ugh, how disgusting!!... What do you mean by blood flow in the body?
Cali and Mav looked at each other and, in a deep understanding, both... punched Max at the same time.
–How much time have we wasted here so far? – I asked Anna, unable to look away from the three in front of us.
–Twenty minutes have passed since we came in. We still have about 40 more. – She replied, glancing briefly at her pocket watch and then turning back to the three.
I glanced around us while this was happening. Covered in fog, dark to the point of not knowing if it was day or night, the buzzing of insects different from what I was used to, a slight, somewhat rotten but not unbearable smell in the air, an occasional faint glow on the ground and on the trees of the glowing mushrooms.
–I still find this place somewhat sinister and threatening. But you can also see a certain mysterious beauty in it. – I said, still hearing the slight commotion they were making.
*I just ask—Where did you—AU!!*
*It's just a kind of rough love, little brother, stan- still while I -ach you very well—*
*That's The Only Way you'll understand how the world works, RIGHT!!!*
–Hmm, maybe, I hope you have more things to profit from.
–To pay off the debt to the Baron quickly? – I asked
–That too, but what merchant doesn't like the idea of a monopoly or being the first to discover a new profitable product?
–Heeeehhh, that's very much a merchant mentality, from what I've heard.
–Disappointed?
–No, I think you're better this way than you are when you're holding the spear.
–I'll try not to take that comment personally.
–Hahahahaha
–.....
–....
*Oh no, oh no, oh no, if I don't trust them like this I'm going to die!!!*
*Don't worry, there are herbs in this party that help with your cardiovascular circulation. YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS, RIGHT!!!!*
–....Shouldn't you stop this soon?. It may atract unwanted atenction.
–Are you sure you want to go in the middle of them?
–....Maybe one more minute won't hurt (too much).
*CAN—HELPDUUUH ME!!!! AAUU*